Spy software
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Spy software (also known as "Computer Monitoring Software" or "keylogger") secretly records a computer user by capturing all keystrokes, websites visited, and chat conversations. Some of these spy software programs can even be installed remotely without being detected by commercial anti-virus software. There are several different uses for this type of software, with two of the most popular being child Internet safety and spousal monitoring. The latter is very controversial, and even illegal in many cases and U.S. states.
Spy Software is installed directly by the user wanting to perform the monitoring. Many times spy software is confused with "spyware", but actually they are different.
Spy Software allows you to legally monitor your children, spouse or employees, it often create reports for your eyes, and can be loaded intentionally by the purchaser.
Spyware is often stealthily installed along with other software installations - it piggybacks onto your system - usually without your knowledge at all, just like a trojan horse. Spyware reports back what websites you frequent, what your interests are, demographic information, and more to the creators of the spyware rather than you.
Spying software can also be in the form of web based service. In this type of spying service the user is not required to download any standalone application, everything is saved and maintained on the web server.
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